Impact of media on society

The following is a response to a prompt that asked about the impact of mass media on society.

For my response, I am going to take the viewpoint of someone who has been a part of the massive network that makes up the mass media. My position was as a staff writer and copy editor for FCCJ's student newspaper: The Campus Voice. While on staff, I learned that there are stories that will evoke both good and bad emotions. For example, I supported John McCain during last year's presidential elections. I wrote some opinion pieces expounding on my opinion on health care, unfair media coverage, and the benefits of a candidate with experience. Depending upon who would have read my writing, my analysis could have been deemed as bias. And, indeed, it was. It was an opinion piece.

Unfortunately, much opinion is being leaked into "hard news" stories and "feature" stories that should be objective rather than subjective. Americans demonstrated that they did not trust the media in 2008 as conservatives argued that CNN and the New York Times failed to give McCain equal coverage. Liberals also complained. When the major news organizations are accusing another news organization of having an unfair agenda, we can be assured that agendas do, in fact, exist.

Mass media is very important in delivering messages. These messages can have positive impacts on the environment, like the pushing of conservation and the green movement. Recently on Disney Channel's popular television series Wizards of Waverly Place and Suite Life on Deck, the importance of recycling, conserving the environment, and the importance of the green movement was emphasized. But mass media can also have a negative impact on society, especially if it is controlled under an autocratic form of government.

Twentieth century history gives us a glimpse of the power of controlling the media. Even in a democratic society like exists in the U.S., the government controls information by choosing which information to feed the public and which information to conceal. A recent report was released to law enforcement that warned of radical right-wing extremists. Specific instructions were noted in the report to not release the report to the public; however, a common sensical, intelligent policeman did so.

In summary, the more restrictions and controls on the media, the more limited information that can be released. This, in turn, often leads the masses to begin to think one-sided. And when a governing authority or body has accomplished this, it can often institute its own measures with overwhelming support; therefore, it is essential that freedom of the press in America remain prevalent.

P.S. The fairness doctrine is really not fair, even as glamarous as Congress or CNN makes it.